Mirror mounting and concealing means



A ril 6, 1965 c. R. MITCHELL ETAL 7 MIRROR MOUNTING AND CONCEALING MEANS Filed Dec. 30, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .38 /E] H) 25 F 1 G. 5 3/ INVENTORS 23 cLYDE R. MITCHELL DOROTHY o. MITCHELL April 6, 1955 c. R. MlTCHELL ETAL 3,176,942

MIRROR MOUNTING AND CONCEALING MEANS Filed Dec. 30, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W W [YT W r I I 1/) 7 z 1 I 38 FIG. IO

INVENTORS CLYDE R. MITCHELL. G I DOROTHY D. MITCHELL United States Patent Generally speaking, the present invention relates to mirror mounting apparatus and, more particularly, relates to controllably openable and positionably adjustable mirror mounting and concealing means adapted to mount a mirror in a normally concealed manner (and, preferably, in a decorative manner) adjacent to a main mirror, such as a dressing table mirror or other vertically positioned mirror normally adapted to be used for hair dressing, makeup, and general cosmetic purposes, usually by women, although not specifically so limited.

The arrangement is such that the normally concealed but controllably openable and controllably positionally adjustable mirror mounting means of the present invention can be opened and adjusted so as to position an auxiliary mirror substantially behind the head of a person facing the main mirror or at one side of, and substantially behind, the head of a person facing the main mirror so that said person may view both front and back portions of his head to facilitate hair dressing, makeup, and other general cosmetic operations. This may also apply to hair coloring, wave-setting, hair trimming, and a variety of other operations where being able to see both front and back portions of the head or hair is extremely desirable. It should be noted that by merely turning the head slightly a person will also be able to see, through the use of the main mirror and the rear-positioned auxiliary mirror, any desired side portion of his head or hair, also.

At the present time, the primary way in which a person may achieve the above desired viewing of all portions of his head is by the use of a dressing table or the like having a main mirror and multiple side panels. These are not only expensive, but do not provide as convenient an arrangement to use as the novel apparatus of the present invention since such a conventional threepanel dressing table mirror arrangement makes it necessary for a person to turn his head very sharply to either side in order to be able to see the rear of his head by reflection between the two side panel mirrors of such a three-panel mirror dressing table mirror arrangement.

On the other hand, the novel apparatus of the present invention requires much less turning of the head in order to provide a full view of any desired portion of the person's head.

Furthermore, the apparatus of the present invention is independent of the main mirror and/ or the dressing table which may be associated therewith and can be merely conveniently mounted on an auxiliary vertical wall adjacent to a main mirror of any type, thus greatly reducing the over-all cost of the composite apparatus, as compared to prior art three-panel dressing table mirror arrangements and constructions of the type referred to above.

Furthermore, the apparatus of the present invention requires less space than the above-mentioned prior art arrangement and normally conceals the auxiliary mirror and provides a highly decorative appearance in so doing.

With the above points in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel controllably openable and positionally adjustable mirror mounting and "ice concealing means embodying any or all of the various generic and/ or specific features referred to hereinbefore, either individually or in combination, and being of an extremely simple, inexpensive, foolproof, .easy-to-mount, and easy-to-use construction such as to facilitate the mass manufacture, distribution, and use of the apparatus.

Further objects are implicit in the detailed description which follows hereinafter (which is to be construed as exemplary only, and which is not to be taken in a limit ing sense), and said objects will be apparent to persons skilled in the art after a careful study of the detailed description set forth hereinafter.

For the purpose of clarifying the nature of the present invention, several exemplary embodiments are illus* trated in the hereinbelow-clescribed figures of the ac companying two sheets of drawings and are described in detail hereinafter.

FIG. 1 is a greatly reduced size perspective view illustrating one exemplary form of the present invention in closed mirror-mounting and mirror-concealing relationship with respect to an auxiliary vertical wall of a room (said room being shown fragmentarily) and in an appropriate position adjacent to a main mirror and a dressing table for optical cooperation of the concealed mirror with said main mirror for. general cosmetic pur poses when desired.

FlG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but shows the exemplary form of the apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 after it has been swung into an open operative position for use by a person adapted to be seated in front of the dressing table and with his face directed toward the main mirror (said person and seat for same not being shown for reasons of drawing simplicity) FIG. 3 is a larger scale elevational view taken in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows 44- of FIG. 2, but shows in solid lines, the second and third mounting elements and the mirror carried by said third mounting element still positioned in pivotally retracted relationship with respect to said first mounting element and with respect to the conceal ing cover means comprising the front panel of same. This view shows, in phantom lines, and in fragmentary form, the pivotally swung out position of said second and third mounting elements (and the mirror carried by said third mounting element) which corresponds to the gen eral position of said second mounting element as shown in solid lines in FlG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows 55 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is another enlarged fragmentary, partially bro ken away, sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows 66 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational View taken in the direction of the arrows 7-7 of FIG. 6 and illustrates the finger or thumb engageable opening aperture for use in swinging the device from the closed position shown in FIG. 1 into the open operative position shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a slightly modified form of the invention in a partly open relationship.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken in the direction of the arrows 9-3 of PEG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the modified apparatus of FIG. 8 after it has been positionally adjusted from the position shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of a very slightly modified version of the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 8-10, wherein the first, second and one side portion 24) of the first mounting element 22 with respect to an auxiliary vertical Wall member, indicated at 25, whereby to effectively pivotally connect said first mounting element 22 with respect to said auxiliary vertical supporting wall. 25 for relative rotation about, a

vertical axis.

The exemplary form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-7 also includes a second mounting element 25 provided with second pivotal mounting hinge means 27 effectively connecting said second mounting element 26 to a laterally horizontally spaced opposite end or side wall portion 34 of said first mounting element 22. for relative rotation around a vertical axis horizontally laterally dis placed from the vertical axis of rotation ofsaid first pivotal mounting hinge means 23. V

The exemplary form of the invention illustrated in FIGS 1-7 also includes a third mounting element 29 provided with a third pivotal mounting hinge means 31 cffectively connecting said third mounting element 2 to said second mounting element 26 for relative rotation around a substantially horizontal axis substantially horizontally bisecting said third mounting element 29 and also said second mounting element 26. It will be noted that said third mounting element 29 is provided with and mounts auxiliary mirror means 32 in a position vertically substantially bisected by said horizontally directed axis 7 of rotation of said third mentioned pivotal mounting hinge means 31.

37 of said intermediate rectangular frame member comprising said second mounting element 26; said third pivotal mounting hinge means actually comprising horizontally directed pivot pins 38 aligned with each other along a horizontal line substantially vertically bisecting both said 7 intermediate frame member 26and said mirror frame member 29 so as to allow pivotal movement about a horizontal axis coincident therewith. In the exemplary first form of the invention illustrated said rectangular mirror frame member comprising said third mounting element 29 carries said previously mentioned rectangular mirror 32 therein.

The previously mentioned concealing cover means 33,

i in the exemplary first form of the invention shown in the invention illustrated includes concealing cover means 33 adapted to cover the entire apparatus when in normal concealing and covering relationship as best shown in FIG. 1.

In the exemplary first form of the invention described above and shown in FIGS. 1-7, the above-mentioned first mounting element, indicated generally at 22, comprises a substantially rectangular outer frame member carrying said pivotal mounting hinge means 23 at vertically spaced locations on the outside of the right side portion 24 thereof as shown in FIG. 1 and carrying said second pivotal mounting hinge means 27 at vertically spaced locations attachedto the inner surface of the opposite side portion 34 of said outer frame member comprising said first mounting element 22. i

' It should also be noted that, in'the exemplary first form of the invention illustrated, said second mounting ele rectangular mirror frame member smaller than said sub-v stantially rectangular intermediate frame member comprising said second mounting element 26 and having two laterally spaced vertically directed side wall members or portions 35 and 36 connected at the vertical centers thereof in an outwardly extending direction by said third horizontally directed pivotal mounting hinge means 31 to the corresponding central side wall portions 28 and FIGS. 1-7, merely comprises a front panel carried by the front edges of said outer frame member comprising said first mounting element 22, thus providing an arrangement adapted to cover the entire inner apparatus when in the closed concealing relationship shown in PEG. 1. Indeed, said front panel 33 comprising the concealing cover means may be adapted to carry decorative means such as the picture or painting, indicated at 39, if desired. However, various other decorative means may be employed, or these may be dispensed with in certain forms of the invention.

In order to facilitate opening the apparatus from the closed mirror concealing relationship shown in FIG. 1 into the open operative relationship shown in FIG. 2, a finger or thumb engageab-le aperture 41 may be carried by the side wall portion 34 of said outer rectangular frame comprising said first mounting element 22 and by the side wall 23 of the intermediate frame 26, if desired.

It will be understood that when the first mounting element 22 is swung into an open position, such as is shown in FIG. 2, then the second mounting element 25 can also be "swung into an open relationship such as is shown in FIG. 2 and then the third mounting element comprising the mirror frame 29 can be pivoted about a horizontal axis until it is in the desired relationship relative to the main wall-mounted mirror 42 so that a person sitting in front of said main mirror 42; and looking at same will be able to see both front and rear portions of his head by reason of the cooperation of the auxiliary contr ollably adjustable mirror 32 and the main mirror 42. After use the entire device is normally folded into the closed mirror-concealing relationship shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 8-10 illustrate a slight modification of the in -22, comprises, a substantially inverted U --shaped rod member carrying said first pivotal mounting hinge means and attachment means at one end thereof, as indicated generally at 23', and carrying said second pivotal mounting hinge means at the other end thereof as indicated generally at 27:. Also in this modification of the invention, said second mounting element comprises a vertically di rected bracket member 26 carrying said second pivotal mounting hinge means 27 at vertically spaced ends thereof and pivotally engaging said second end of said inverted U-shaped rod member comprising said first mounting 'element ZZ'.

' Additionally, it should be noted that, in said modified form of the invention, said third mounting element, indicated generally at 29', comprisesa substantiallyrectangular mirror frame carrying a mirror 32' therein and having a vertically directed side wall portion 35' connected to one portion of said third and horizontally directed pivotal mounting hinge means, indicated generally at 31' and comprising an efifective pivot pin taking the form of a bolt 38' and being horizontally directed and positioned at a location substantially vertically bisecting said mirror 32 whereby to allow pivotal movement thereof around a horizontal central axis coincident with said pivotal mounting means 31'.

In the exemplary modified form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 840, the concealing cover means is indicated generally at 33' and comprise a complete cover including front and side wall portions connected by hinge means 43 with respect to the auxiliary wall whereby to be capable of being pivotally swung over the first, sec 0nd, and third mounting elements 22, 26', and 29 when they are moved from the position shown in FIG. 8 around the axis of the first pivotal mounting hinge means 23' in a direction opposite to the arrow 44 so as to lie closely adjacent to the hinges 43. In other words, when the concealing cover 33 is moved over the apparatus shown in FIG. 8, the mirror 32' and all the rest of the apparatus will be concealed and will very closely resemble the appearance of the closed mirror-concealing relationship of the first form of the apparatus as shown in FIG. 1.

The arrow 44 of FIG. 8 indicates the direction of opening movement of the mirror mounting apparatus, while the arrow 45 of FIG. 10 indicates the direction of closing movement of the mirror mounting apparatus. The direction of closing movement of the concealing cover means 33' is indicated by the directional arrow 46 in FIG. 10.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view illustrating a form oi the invention very similar to the modified version illustrated in detail in FIGS. 8-40 and described in considerable detail above. Therefore, this modification is indicated by similar reference numerals, doubly primed, however. iIt will be noted that, in this modification of the invention, the first pivotal mounting hinge and attachment means is indicated generally at 23 and mounts the first mounting element, indicated fragmentarily at 22", inside of one side wall or edge portion 47 of the conceailng cover means indicated fragmentari-ly at 33". Otherwise, this modification of the invention is substantially similar to that illustrated in FIGS. 840 and no turther description, which would be redundant, is thought necessary.

The first, second, and third mounting elements may be made of wood, plastic, metal, or any other suitable material and this is also true of the first, second, and third pivotal mounting means and of the attachment means therefor.

It should be understood that the figures and the specific description thereof set forth in this application are for the purpose of illustrating the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention to the precise and detailed specific structure shown in the figures and specifically described hereinbefore. Rather, the real invention is intended to include substantially equivalent constructions embodying the basic teachings and inventive concept of the present invention.

We claim:

1. Controllably openable and positionally adjustable mirror mounting and concealing means, comprising: a first mounting element provided with first pivotal mounting hinge means and attachment means cooperable for attaching one portion thereof at a selected fixed location with respect to an auxiliary vertical wall member whereby to effectively pivotally connect said first mounting element with respect to said auxiliary vertical supporting wall for relative rotation about a first longitudinal axis parallel to said wall; a second mounting element provided with second pivotal mounting hinge means efiectively connecting said second mounting element to a portion of said first mounting element for relative rotation around a second longitudinal axis displaced from said first axis of rotation of said first pivotal mounting hinge means;

a third mounting element provided with a third pivotal mounting hinge means effectively connecting said third mounting element to said second mounting element for relative rotation around a third longitudinal axis sub stantially perpendicular to said second axis, said third mounting element being provided with, and mounting, cosmetic mirror means; and concealing cover means mounted for normally concealing and covering relationship in front of said second and third mounting elements, said second and third pivotal mounting hinge means, and said mirror means, and controllably hingedly movable into an open relationship placing said first, second, and third mounting elements and said first, second, and third pivotal mounting hinge means and said mirror means in open relationship relative to each other and relative to said auxiliary vertical supporting wall.

2. Controllably openable and positionally adjustable mirror mounting and concealing means, comprising: a first mounting element provided with first pivotal mounting hinge means and attachment means cooperable for attaching one portion thereof at a selected fixed location with respect to an auxiliary vertical wall member whereby to effectively pivotally connect said first mounting element with respect to said auxiliary vertical supporting wall for relative rotation about a first longitudinal axis parallel to said Wall; a second mounting element provided with second pivotal mounting hinge means effectively connecting said second mounting element to a spaced opposite end portion of said first mounting element for relative rotation around a second longitudinal axis displaced from said first axis of rotation of said first pivotal mounting hinge means and parallel thereto; a third mounting element provided with a third pivotal mounting hinge means effectively connecting said third mounting element to said second mounting element for relative rotation around a third longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to, and in the plane of, said first and second axes and substantially bisecting said third mounting element, said third mounting element being provided with, and mounting, cosmetic mirror means in a position substantially bifurcated by said third axis of rotation of said third pivotal mounting hinge means; and concealing cover means mounted for normally concealing and covering relationship in front of said second and third mounting elements, said second and third pivotal mounting hinge means, and said mirror means, and controllably hingedly movable into an open relationship placing said first, second, and third mounting elements and said first, second, and third pivotal mounting hinge means and said mirror means in open relationship relative to each other and relative to said auxiliary vertical supporting wall.

3. Controllably openable and positionally adjustable mirror mounting and concealing means, comprising: a first mounting element provided with first pivotal mounting hinge means and attachment means coopera'ble for attaching one portion thereof at a selected fixed location with respect to an auxiliary vertical wall member whereby to elfectively pivotally connect said first mounting element with respect to said auxiliary vertical supporting wall for relative rotation about a first vertical axis; a second mounting element provided with second pivotal mounting hinge menas effectively connecting said second mounting element to a laterally horizontally spaced 0pposi-te end portion of said first mounting element for relative rotation around a second vertical axis laterally horizontally displaced from said first vertical axis of rotation of said first pivotal mounting hinge means; a third mounting element provided with a third pivotal mounting hinge means effectively connecting said third mounting element to said second mounting element for relative rotation around a substantially horizontal axis, substantially hori Zontally bisecting said third mounting element and said second mounting element, said third mounting element being provided with, and mounting, substantially planar arrears cosmetic mirror means in a position vertically substantially bifurcated by said third and horizontally directed axis of rotation of said third pivotal mounting hinge means; and concealing cover means mounted for normally concealing and covering relationship in front of said, second and third mounting elements, said second and third pivotal mounting hinge means, and said mirror means, and controllably hingedly'movable into an open relationship placing said first, second, and third mounting elements and said first, second, and third pivotal mounting hinge means and said mirror means in open relationship relative to each other and relative to said auxiliary vertical supporting Wall.

' 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said first mounting element comprises a substantially rectangular outer frame member carrying said first pivotal mounting hinge means and attachment means at one side thereof and said second pivotal mounting hinge means at the other side thereofin horizontally laterally displaced re lationship.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said second mounting element comprises a substantially rectangular intermediate frame member slightly smaller than said outer frame member and carrying said second pivotal mounting hinge means at one side thereof and pivotally engaging the inside of said second mentioned side of said outer frame member comprising said first mounting element.

6. Appaartus as defined in claim 5, wherein said third mounting element comprises a substantially rectangular inner mirror frame member having vertically directed sidewall portions connected to inner portions'of said third and horizontally directed pivotal mounting hinge means, with the outer portions of said third pivotal mounting hinge means being connected to opposite sides of said intermediate frame member comprising said second mounting element at substantially the vertical midpoints thereof.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said first mounting element comprises a substantially inverted U- shaped rod member carrying said first pivotal mounting hinge means and attachment at one end thereof and said second pivotal mounting hinge'means at the other end thereof. v

8. Apparatus as defined in claim '7, wherein said second mounting element comprises a vertically directed bracket member carrying said second pivotal mounting hinge means at vertically spacedends thereof and pivotally engaging said second end of said inverted U-shaped rod member comprising said first mounting element.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said third I References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 577,204 2/97" Patten 312-213 1,661,899 3/28 Martens 312227 X 1,908,831 5/33 Edward 31 2189 2,317,437 4/43 Botta 312113 2,592,086 4/52 Viney 88-100 3,140,134 7/64 Nai-rn 3l2--204 V CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. 

1. CONTROLLABLY OPENABLE AND POSITIONALLY ADJUSTABLE MIRROR MOUNTING AND CONCEALING MEANS, COMPRISING: A FIRST MOUNTING ELEMENT PROVIDED WITH FIRST PIVOTAL MOUNT ING HINGE MEANS AND ATTACHMENT MEANS COOPERABLE FOR ATTACHING ONE PORTION THEREOF AT A SELECTED FIXED LOCATION WITH RESPECT TO AN AUXILIARY VERTICAL WALL MEMBER WHEREBY TO EFFECTIVELY PIVOTALLY CONNECT SAID FIRST MOUNTING ELEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SAID AUXILIARY VERTICAL SUPPORTING WALL FOR RELATIVE ROTATION ABOUT A FIRST LONGITUDINAL AXIS PARALLEL TO SAID WALL; A SECOND MOUNTING ELEMENT PROVIDED WITH SECOND PIVOTAL MOUNTING HINGE MEANS EFFECTIVELY CONNECTING SAID SECOND MOUNTING ELEMENT TO A PORTION OF SAID FIRST MOUNTING ELEMENT FOR RELATIVE ROTATION AROUND A SECOND LONGITUDINAL AXIS DISPLACED FROM SAID FIRST AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID FIRST PIVOTAL MOUNTING HINGE MEANS; A THIRD MOUNTING ELEMENT PROVIDED WITH A THIRD PIVOTAL MOUNTING HINGE MEANS EFFECTIVELY CONNECTING SAID THIRD MOUNTING ELEMENT TO SAID SECOND MOUNTING ELEMENT FOR RELATIVE ROTATION AROUND A THIRD LONGITUDINAL AXIS SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID SECOND AXIS, SAID THIRD MOUNTING ELEMENT BEING PROVIDED WITH, AND MOUNTING, COSMETIC MIRROR MEANS; AND CONCEALING COVER MEANS MOUNTED FOR NORMALLY CONCEALING AND COVERING RELATIONSHIP IN FRONT OF SAID SECOND AND THIRD MOUNTING ELEMENTS, SAID SECOND AND THIRD PIVOTAL MOUNTING HINGE MEANS, AND SAID MIRROR MEANS, AND CONTROLLABLY HINGEDLY MOVABLE INTO AN OPEN RELATIONSHIP PLACING SAID FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD MOUNTING ELEMENTS AND SAID FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD PIVOTAL MOUNTING HINGE MEANS AND SAID MIRROR MEANS IN OPEN RELATIONSHIP RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER AND RELATIVE TO SAID AUXILIARY VERTICAL SUPPORTING WALL. 